Exact Solar

Solar Electric or Photovoltaic (PV) panels convert the sun's radiation into electricity.  When people talk about solar energy, this is often what comes to mind.

PV provides clean, renewable electricity to your home or business.

Attention PA residents:  Pennsylvania's Sunshine Grant Program has started accepting applications.  Rebates of up to $2.25 per watt are now available.

PV systems are designated by the amount of electricity they produce during "peak sun" times.  For example a 3 kW system produces 3 kilowatts of electricity between 10:00am and 2:00pm on a sunny day.

An estimate of the average amount of electricity produced each month is calculated by multiplying the size of the system by 130.  So a 3 kW system would produce about 390 kWh each month.  This amount will vary based on tilt and orientation of the panels.  Also, the panels are very sensitive to shade.

PV systems are scalable -- they can be as big or a small as you would like.  You can even start small and add-on later.  The systems typically cost $7.50 to $8.00 per watt.  So a 3 kW system would cost around $22,500 to $24,000, depending on the complexity of the installation.

In addition to the Sunshine Grants, there is a federal income tax credit of 30% of the cost of the system available to reduce the effective cost of a PV system.  There is no cap on the tax credit and it can be carried forward.

1. Solar Panels collect molecules of sunshine, which are little packets of energy, and convert them into DC electric current.
2. DC to AC Inverter converts the direct current (DC) generated by a solar panel into alternating current (AC), that can be used to power appliances in your home.
3. Once your solar panels have converted the Sun's light into an electric current and that current has been converted from DC to AC, it can then be used to power your lights and appliances (AC Loads).
4. Your home solar power system can actually cause your Electric Meter to spin backwards through a process called net metering.  When your system produces more electricity than you are consuming, it feeds the excess electricity into the main power grid and you earn credit on your electric bill.
5. Once electricity generated by your residential solar power system is directed onto the Power Grid, it can then be used by someone else and adds to the overall total of kilowatt hours produced by a clean and renewable energy source - the Sun!  The power grid will also supply you with electricity during those times you are consuming more than your system is producing.